Sharon

Surprising as Samsova had an amazing technique, her jumps, turns were always a breeze for her. Perhaps this production was choregraphed without the fouettes?? Not likely I know. Is it more likely that Samsova omitted them due to injury or inability to no longer perform them cleanly or to the standard she previously danced them.

BTW, I got a stalls circle seat for the 11 June 😁

I'm jealous Alison - I wish I could buy a standing tkt but there's no way, with my knee, that I could stand that long. So it's a - expensive - seat for me, but since I don't get to the ROH every week, it's ok 🙂

For me it's the music and the pdd's in Manon that I love. That's it. I've seen it several times so made the decision not to go through the expense of going to London to see it this run. Although I will probably go see ENB in Manchester out of interest and because it's quite near. I sort of feel the same about Mayerling, although I prefer Manon. I love MacMillan's pdd's & non narrative ballets -but not all his full 3 act narrative ballets.....

@Jane S thanks for that, really interesting read. Imagine empty boxes arriving at the Sarasota Ballet from ENB. Bizarre! But I'm glad they (Webb & Barbieri) are still planning to mount it when the time and consequences are right.

Yes Ian I agree. I'm actually off to California in a couple of weeks and I have a ticket for the Unbound festival, & I'm so looking forward to seeing Snowblind. I just wrote last night on another thread that I wished Kevin O'Hare would invite Cathy Marston to the RB to create a classical narrative ballet....

Yes exactly, it was several years ago, but it would be really great to have her create something new, (classically based narrative?) working with all the talented young dancers.

From the rehearsal film I am really excited to see this ballet. There are some really interesting moves and lifts, very original from this first glance. I am also hoping to see her choreography for the San Francisco Ballet next month. I really hope Kevin O'Hare invites Cathy Marston to create something for the Royal she is a very talented and original - & her work suites a classical company - choreographer.

I don't know. But all the photos I've seen of this work from 1936 look beautiful...

Thank you Liizbie1 - wouldn't you know it I can't find the particular photo I was thinking about - although there is a photo of her in it in the Meredith Daneman biography and I've found another one wearing the ball gown from the same ballet. Does anyone know if this ballet still survives?

In quite a few old ballet books there is usually a photo of Fonteyn in a beautiful long black dress from a ballet called Apparitions by Ashton. I have never seen this very early ballet, but if there was to be a Fonteyn evening it would be lovely to include this - if it's not lost....

I read the article it doesn't mention how he is re his recent injury. It's an article about his past, his parents, first boyfriend, etc. It does mention a performance planned in August....

I've been thinking about the cinema relay since Tuesday and I've decided that the best thing about the evening were the dancers. They were ALL fantastic especially Calvin Richardson & Joseph Sisson. All the cast of Age of Anxiety. & Sarah Lamb was really good - while watching her, was I did hope that in the future cinema relays another principal has the main role as Lamb has been featured in the last couple (Nutcracker & Winter's Tale). I hated the costumes in both the MacGregor & Wheeldon piece. I also wondered why they were wearing pointe shoes in Yugen, it was definitely a piece that wouldn't of missed them and again, I found myself wondering why such a contemporary dance choreographer is the Resident Choreographer of a classical company? I thought Age of Anxiety was entertaining, I had never seen it before, but it did remind me of the dance section from a 50's musical. It definitely wasn't as bad as described. There was a lot going on in Corybantic Games, those 3 pdd at the same time annoyed me. But all the cast were wonderful. Those silly costumes though 🙄! Although all the dancers we're absolutely amazing - the RB is so very lucky to have so much talent throughout the ranks - I felt my eye lids drooping, I was sleepy, and that Never happens when I'm watching ballet normally....

Ooo and just read it's Arthur Mitchell's birthday today, nice coincidence 😁

The above posts reminded me of another occasion when I went to see Dance Theatre of Harlem, and a friend had invited her know it all friend. As she had been invited by my friend I refrained from responding to her always wrong statements and just kept quiet, trying to blank her. It was really hard! As this woman thought she knew everything - and we knew nothing 🙄 During the interval - I walked away from my group towards an incredibly handsome man with a big smile on my face, and spoke with him for a short time. When I returned, this annoying woman turned to me and said ' who was that, a friend of yours?' I just looked at her, and said I was just saying hello to Arthur Mitchell. "Arthur Mitchell?" she asked, looking at me blankly. I looked at her then - as if I were shocked, "yes Arthur Mitchell, the Artistic Director of the company!" I'd like to say that it shut her up for the rest of the evening....but 10 mins was better than nothing. 😉

Thank You Douglas for thanking me 😉 Seriously, I really enjoyed reading your post and everyone else who have shared their precious memories of this amazingly important man in the history of ballet.

Very sad news. Condolences to his family. R.I.P

I liked your post particularly about Nureyev's fashion sense 😉 But however much I adored Rudolf his dancing, acting and a lot of his choreography, I really don't like his Nutcracker, the gpdd is full of difficult moves but I think it's ugly. It's my opinion and I own it 😋

I think it was either my first or second ever post when someone responded in what I thought was a 'sharp' reply. I must admit I was surprised and for an instant I questioned my post, opinion etc. But only for an instant because before I knew it several members 'liked' my post and responded to the 'sharp' reply. And I also realised that she had her opinion but I also had mine that we won't always agree. I could either let the sharp retort bother me - or not. I chose not.

That sounds like a great show particularly The Suit. I have yet to see Ballet Black - I really hope I get the opportunity this year. Which is why I really appreciate photos of performances I can't get too.

Thank you for the photos.

@Fonty thank you for that excellent example of how things can sound on social media. After just reading on another thread that some of our members are considering leaving because of the response to their posts and the general atmosphere lately, your post was well timed. Discussion is good, especially over ballet, but some posts do sound stern or bossy sometimes - probably unintentionally, so perhaps we could all be more aware of what we write and on the flip side of how we react to posts...?

Today social media is full of posts remembering Rudolf Nureyev - he would of been 80yrs old today. I only saw Rudolf dance twice, in Manchester late 70's or early 80's and then later in a tiny theatre in Italy in the mid 1980's (1987 maybe?). I think he danced in Manchester because someone was injured and he stepped in, but I could be wrong... 25 yrs since this force of nature passed and we still honour his memory, and that says it all.

It is an excellent idea and I for one would support it. I'm sorry I'm not able to give you any advice on how to make it happen. David Bintley is such an amazing man and he really deserves a knighthood.

"reminding me of a bondage scene from a porn movie" 😂😂😂 too funny!! Didn't see the performance, but did wonder at all the fuss in regards to the costumes, as from the photos it looked like white tights on the men & large panties and bustier on the women, with black strips - I thought I was missing something 🙄